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n this day and age, learning photography has never been easier. Thanks to today’s near-unbridled access to online education, aspiring photographers can learn the craft on their computers without having to spend a single cent. We’ve rounded up some of the best free online photography courses that will teach you everything you need to know. From image composition and camera settings to lighting and photo editing techniques, there’s a class for you. No matter your skill level, we’ve got you covered!
Here are some of the most popular and highly rated online photography courses for beginner and intermediate photographers. Most are available all year round and allow you to learn at your own pace. Others are available for a short period of time and offer more advanced lessons at a small price. We’ve also labeled them according to your skill level, so you can easily find the right course/s for you. Then, refer to our list as you level up.
1. Basics of Photography: The Complete Guide
Level: Beginner
This comprehensive, mostly-text tutorial by Lifehacker starts off with three sections that explain how a digital camera works, its automatic settings, and its more advanced manual settings. The last two sections provide helpful information on compositional techniques and how to edit your photos during post-processing.
The course also offers additional resources for extended learning on each topic. And with a couple of videos included, it’s an easy way to gain a much better understanding of cameras and imaging before finally venturing into the world of digital photography.
2. Introduction to Photography and Related Media
Level: Beginner
The course, which is freely available to anyone through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare initiative, features video lectures from a semester-long undergraduate-level course at MIT. With the help of four instructors, you’ll learn the fundamentals of photography, and technical aspects of working analog and digital SLR cameras.
The tutorial also covers lessons on film imaging—particularly film exposure, film development, and darkroom techniques—aside from digital imaging and studio lighting.
3. Your Road to Better Photography
Level: Beginner
This free Udemy course aims to make photography “simple”. It uses a 10 lectures and a total of 31 minutes of instructional videos. Celebrity photographer and cinematographer Corey Reese provides in-depth information about shooting in natural light and understanding manual camera settings (like aperture and shutter speed) for a wide range of photography applications. As with most photography courses, you’ll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera to be able to maximize the lessons.
4. Lighting 101 by Strobist
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
As the name suggests, Lighting 101 teaches all the basics (and more) about working with lighting equipment. While the lessons are mostly text-based with a few images, it helps both beginners and skilled photographers understand the topics covered in a very understandable way and effectively improves the quality of their photos.
Keep in mind that you may need to finish a beginner photography course beforehand.
5. Commercial Photography: Still and Moving Image
Level: Intermediate
This free FutureLearn online course is for aspiring commercial photographers or assistants who are hoping to develop their skills and knowledge in new media. This involves exploring still and moving image photography. You’ll get to tackle topics on filmmaking as well as the use of CGI, animation, and more. It will also help you learn how to create winning commercial yet personal and individualized work for clients. All of this will be useful if you’re pursuing advertising, fashion, or editorial photography.
Based on certain elements of the photography courses at Norwich University of the Arts, these lessons allow you to learn from expert academics, as well as leading commercial photographers like Andy Earl and Tim Flach.
6. The Art of Photography (PHOT) by Dr. Shane Hulbert
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Unlike other free online photography classes, the Art of Photography from RMIT University includes quizzes and an assessment at the end of every single module. Aspiring photographers will learn, with the help of photography expert and academic Dr. Shane Hulbert, about exposure settings, the key features of a digital camera, how a lens works, image editing tools, and much more. The entire course requires about 2 to 4 hours of study per week. It also entails four modules with around 4 hours and 2 minutes of video content.
Students who pass the course will earn a Certificate of Achievement that can help beef up their resume. Note: this is technically not a formal qualification.
7. CreativeLife On-Air Classes
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
CreativeLife mostly sells online courses, but they also have a wide range of free on-air classes (at least one per day). These classes cover topics such as video, art and design, music and audio, crafts, and others—including photography, of course. The site allows viewers to RSVP to different classes, which can easily be viewed by more than 50,000 students from around the world. Make sure to take note of the date and time of the on-air class you want to take. There are many different courses each day.
Should you consider trying out their paid classes, you can catch celebrity guests and instructors like world-renowned wedding photographer Jasmine Star.
8. Alison Free Online Courses and Online Learning
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Alison offers free online diploma and certificate courses in a wide variety of disciplines, which includes a handful of photography courses designed to help shutterbugs of varying skill levels take their photography to the new heights. Alison currently has certificate courses for beginners, intermediate-level photographers, and advanced shooters, as well as a diploma course on digital photography. If you want to learn more about exposure settings, composition techniques, or post-production tools, this is a good place to start.
9. Documentary Photography and Photojournalism: Still Images of a World in Motion
Level: Intermediate
A free online photography course for aspiring photojournalists, this MIT course from 2016 (also available on MIT OpenCourseWare) helps you hone your photographic “eye” and skills by exposing you to the work of some of the most successful shooters in the field. And by the end of the course, you will have gained expert knowledge in capturing the essence of a scene. Then, you’ll effectively convey meaningful messages despite the obvious limitations of a still photo. If you have a passion for extraordinary images that tell a story, this course is for you.
10. Professional Family Portraits by Kirk Tuck
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
The course offers advanced yet very doable strategies for taking flattering portraits as well as tips on how you can make your subjects (young and old) behave in front of the camera. However, you’ll need to have a pretty good understanding of how cameras work in order to understand other lessons on image composition, exposure techniques, lighting equipment, and post-processing. The goal is for you to have a very good idea of how you can execute a pictorial—whether indoor or outdoor—for an entire family. In the end, you’ll produce a final product that they would hang in their living room and treasure for years or generations to come.
If you’re looking for specific topics or tutorials, then browse the 42West for comprehensive yet easy-to-understand articles and video tutorials on all kinds of photography topics.
Tips to Choose the Best Digital Photography Course for You
With so many photography classes and workshops available these days, digital and in-person, free and paid, you may feel overwhelmed when searching for the ideal opportunity to expand your photography skills. Here are a few ideas to help you find the best options:
- Start small. If you’re just starting out, the best online photography course for you may be very simple and focus on a few key photography tips.
- Ask around. Talk to your friends and family who are interested in photography and have the same basic experience level as you. They may be able to recommend the perfect class or workshop.
- Consult the local library or community center. Many local public spaces offer beginner photography classes to help you get started.
- Read reviews. There are so many online photography classes available. To find the best courses for your interests and experience level, it’s a good idea to read reviews from previous students.
- Make sure the class you intend to take is at the right experience level. You don’t want to end up in a class for advanced photographers if you’re still learning the fundamentals of photography. Reach out to the instructor for clarification or placement questions.
- Find online photography classes that focus on Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. Learning how to shoot is only part of the experience. Learning how to use programs like Lightroom and Photoshop will help you polish your work and solidify your photography techniques.
- When you’re ready to advance beyond free options, consider a travel workshop with a professional photographer for mastering advanced techniques in the field. These hands-on experiences will help you get comfortable not only with the fundamentals of photography, but also with more advanced photography skills.
Regardless of the digital photography course you choose, becoming a photographer requires having the right equipment. We recommend looking into a DSLR or mirrorless camera such as a Canon EOS R5 or Sony Alpha a7S III or even a Nikon D500. Having the right equipment will ensure you can grow as a photographer as your skills develop.
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